Automatic hoist and binder



NOV. 10, 1953 wQco 2,658,722

AUTOMATIC HOIST AND BINDER Original Filed March 9, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. H fki k/ex m C'OFFl/Y.

No v. 10, 1953 w, cor-mus. 2,658,722

AUTOMATIC .HOIST AND BINDER Original Filed March 9, 1950 32Sheet -Sheet 2 Nov. 10, 1953 F. w. COFFING AUTOMATIC HOIST AND BINDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed March 9, 1950 Patented Nov. 10, 1953 AUTOMATIC HOIST .AND BINDER Fredrick W. Cofiing, Danville, Ill., assignor to Coifing Hoist Company, Danville, 111., a corporation Original application March 9, 1950, Serial No. v 148,727. Divided and this application May 10,

, 1952,,Serial No. 287,238

This invention relates to a full automatic hoist, wire stretcher or load binder device, and is a division oimy application Serial No. 148,727 filed March 9, 1950, now abandoned.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, rugged, compactstructure capable of the foregoing functions and step by step advance or retrograde movement of ,a flexible linextensible load support, such as alog chain, sprocket chain, tape or the like, and the free movement thereof through such device when desired.

. One feature of the invention resides in associating with a load wheel carrying a flexible load support such as a chain or strap, alink supported operatinglever having an actuating handle and load pawl adapted to be tilted into and out of load pawl engagement, together with a holding pawl and associated latching cam therefor which may be actuated by swinging movement of the operating lever and supporting link to latch the holding pawl out of holding position for load lowering and free running when the operating handle is moved to one predetermined position, and unlatch the holding pawl to permit it to become efiective when the handle is swung to another extreme actuated position.

Another feature of the invention resides in a structure of the above character wherein all three operations, namelyload lifting, load lowering and free running of the flexible load support may all be effected through the movement and positioning of the handle on the operating lever with no other manual control setting.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a floating latching cam for latching and releasing theholding pawlthrough operation and predetermined positioning of the actuating handle and its operating lever.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. 1 isa side elevational view of the invention associated with a flexible means of log chain type, the parts being shown in the handle lowered position in the lifting operation.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of such device.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view with the handle in the highest position in the lifting operation.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation in the lowest handle position upon load lowering.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation inthe so-called free chain position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the holding pawl.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the load supportingwheel. M

6 Claims. (01. 254-4 7) Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and of a sprocket type chain embodiment of the invention.

Fig.9 is a perspective view of the holding pawl thereof.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the load supporting wheel thereof.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of the basic invention, certain dotted lines indicating "the collapsed position of the handle for shipment or storage purposes,'the parts being shown in the position comparable to Fig. 1 and chain being shown as of link type.

Fig. 12 is a similar view of a portion of this embodiment with parts in a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but with parts disposed in the load lowering position at the start of a load lowering stroke.

Fig. 14 .is a bottom plan view of the jointed handle structure.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Figs. 1, 8 and 11 of a tape embodiment of the invention.

This invention, as a division of my application Serial No. 148,727 is directed primarily to the structureshown in Figures 10-15, inclusive.

In Figs. 1 to 7 thereis illustrated a flexible load support comprising a log or coil chain embodiment of the invention whereas Figs. 8 to 10 illustrate the invention incorporated in a sprocket chain embodiment thereof. A cursory comparison of Fig. 1 with Fig. 8; Fig. 6 with Fig. 9, and Fig. 7 with Fig. 10, will visually demonstrate the difierences which are confined to the formation of the active endsof the pawls and the periphery of the load supporting wheel. Figs. 1 to 5 illustrate the invention in several positions essential to an understanding of the basic invention.

. In said figures reference numeral N indicates a supporting or anchoring hook swivelably supporting at l2 a clevis I3 disposed in eye I4 swivelled in loop I5 through which the support I 6 extends and upon the ends of which are mounted the plates or straps it! retained by nuts [1. Support It serves as a strap spacer and straps 18 comprise the housing.

Any other suitable or equivalent mechanism may be providedI if desired. A load connecting hook I 9 is swivelably mounted at 20 in stop member 2| connected at 22 to one end of a coil chain having alternately disposed vertical and flatwise positioned connected links 23 and 24, respectively. The other end of the chain may terminate in finger ring and stop 25. All the aforesaid is handle.

conventional to the hoist art wherefore in all figures but Fig. 1 most of said parts are omitted.

The plates I8, see Figs. 1 and 2, pivotally support at 26 an axle 21, and freely rotatable thereon and disposed between said plates is the load supporting wheel 28, the details of which are shown more clearly in Fig. 7. The axle is suitably retained as at 29.

Pivoted on said axle and exteriorly of the plates are a pair of operating lever supporting links'30. The outer ends of said links pivotally support at 3| an operating lever 32 including a handle comprised of a plurality of bars, see Fig. 2. The inner end of the lever is extended toward and lies adjacent the wheel and terminates in a load pawl portion 33, said pawl extending on the other side of the pivotal support at 3| from the handle.

Upon the pin 34, bridging the plates [8 above the wheel, there is pivotally mounted a holding pawl 35 shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 6. The end of the load pawl portion 33 is substantially like the end of the holding pawl 35, wherefore anillustration thereof has been omitted. A spring 33, see Fig. 1, has one end anchored at 31, to the housing and its opposite end is anchored at 38 to pawl 35 to constrain the latter toward the wheel 28. In Figs. 1 and 6 the pawl 35 has a centrally notched end 39 to provide claws .40 adapted to enter between links 24 and straddle the intermediate link 23. The free end of pawl 33 is slotted at M and formed at 42 in a like manner to that of pawl 35.

Herein the device is shown symmetrical. Since one side is like the other, a. description of one side will suifice, for in certain instances that is all that is required for successful operation. Pawl 35 mounts a latchpin 43 (see Figs. 1, 4 and 5). Pivotally mounted at 44 upon the housing I8 there is a latching cam 45 extending between the pin 43 and the cam extension 46 carried by the link 30, pin 43 being fixed to and extending laterally from the holding pawl 35 in position to be engaged by the latching cam for latching the holding pawl free of its effective holding position. .The link 30 is also formed with a latch releasing stop 41 opposed to its extension 46, and

. adapted to be rocked by the operating lever 32 against the latching cam for releasing its latching engagement with the pin 43. As above stated, this structure of the latching cam, cam extension and stop may be carried only on one side of the housing as shown in Fig.4 instead of being symmetrically arrangedon both sides of the housing as shown in Fig. 2.

Operation When the parts are disposed as shown in Fig. 1 the handle 32 is in its lowermost position for load raising. The load is now held by holding pawl 35. The handle is tilted counter-clockwise together with links 30. This withdraws the load pawl 33 from the chain while it is held by pawl 35. When handle 32 is sufficiently elevated toward pawl 35, the pawl 33 is reengaged with the chain and the load is then taken by the When the handle is moved clockwise, pawl 35 is ratcheted out of and over the chain as the same advances, the wheel 28 rotating therewith. When the handle movement is stopped pawl 35, under the influence of spring 36, seats in and again engages the chain for load holding. This describes a complete stroke 'of the handle for load elevation. The handle is oscillated as often as required or desired.

For load lowering, no manual actuation i re- I33 includes a similar portion I42.

curved a and I42 to conform to the roller '4 quired. The handle stroke is merely modified which brings into play the parts. last described. When the handle of the operating lever 32 is brought down to a predetermined lowered position, as shown in Fig. 4, the cam extension 46 engages the latch 45 which in turn engages the latch pin 43 to swing the load pawl 35 free of load holding position and latches it out of its load holding position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 upon a'further slight clockwise movement of the handle sufficiently to release the holding pawl from the pressure exerted thereon by the load. The load is then carried for lowering through counterclockwise movement of the operating lever 32, the load pawl taking the load on the wheel. As the load is lowered by the operating lever being moved counterclockwise, the latch releasing stop 41 is brought into engagement with the latch 45 upon said lever reaching its uppermost extreme position and having lowered the load a predetermined distance. .Upon the latch being thus engaged by thestop 41, it is forced about its pivotal mounting 44 in a counterclockwise direction free of the latch pin 43, thereby permitting theholding pawl 35 to again move into its load wheel holding position under tension of the spring 33, as shown in Fig. 3. The holding pawl will then hold the load while theoperating lever 32 is tilted about its pivotal support at 3| to free the load pawl and permit the operating lever to be freely returned clockwise to its lowered position and tilt it into load pawl engaging position at the end of its lowering stroke. Thereupon, the load pawl takes over the load and simultaneouslytherewith the cam extension 46 has again forced the latch 45 into its latching engagement with the latch pin 43, which completes the load lowering cycle.

For free chain action with no load, the latch 45 may be forced into its latching position as above described, but instead of swinging the operating lever counterclockwise with the load pawl in load wheel engagement, said operating lever is merely tilted about its pivotal support 3I, with the load pawl 33 swung outwardly from the load wheel and chain. In this position as shown in Fig. 5 neither the load pawl 33 nor the latched out holding pawl 35 is effective, and the load wheel may thereupon be freely rotated for free chain operation.

The wheel.'28 as shown in Fig. 7 includes the circular peripheral side portions 48 and the central grooved portion 49. The links 24 bear upon the surface portions 48, and the links 23 are disposed in the groove 49.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, wherein the sprocket chain embodiment is illustrated. Operation hereof is identical to that previously described wherefore a description hereof is omitted.

In these figures numerals of the one hundred series designate parts identical, similar or equivalent to those designated'by the primary series of numerals in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive. The following modifications may be noted: Herein wheel I28, see Fig. 10, includes two outer peripheral portions I48 that provide clearance for the chain side links I23. The intermediate larger diametered portion I49 of the wheel provides a bearing surface for the chain sleeve rollers I24.

As before, the pawls I35 and I33have identi-.

cal ends. Herein the holding pawl I35, see Fig. 9, includes a central portion I40 and load pawl These are peripheries. The sides of said pawls are notched out at their free ends, or the pivoted end may include bosses I39 and Ill respectively. Thus the pawls are active upon the chain rollers only and the latter bear only upon the wheel I 28.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, wherein numerals of the two hundred series indicate parts similar, identical or equivalent to the parts shown in Fig. 1 and designated by the corresponding primarynumerals.

In said figures, as in Fig. 8, there is illustrated the link or sprocket type chain and a wheel 228 which may be identical to the wheel I28, which wheel is mounted at 221 between the housing straps 218.

The present embodiment contains two modifications. By referring to Figs. 3 and '5 it will be noted that cam extension 46, in certain positions of link 30, projects laterally beyond the housing. Such is not the case in Figs. 11 to 14.

3 Again in the two preceding forms, while the handle 32 or I32 may be partially laid back, see Fig. 5, it cannot be fully collapsed against the housing as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 11.

Herein the two side links 230 are apertured at 230 and a latch spring tie, having mid-portion 260 and arms 26l with outwardly directed ends 262, is mounted thereon with said ends seated in the apertures. The normal bias in said arms retains this tie seated in and upon links 230. The handle 232 includes a catch portion 232 that is engaged by the mid-portion of the latch spring tie and normally holds the spring and handle against complete separation in normal operation but permits separation for complete collapse. Said catch portion also serves as 'a stop to limit undue lowering movement of the handle because links 230 have portions 230 that engage strap carried pins 263.

Instead of having the holding pawl pin exposed to one side of the housing, this pin 243 now projects through openings 264 in the housing plates 2l8. Wider plates may accordingly be utilized.

As before, the hoist includes the holding pawl 235 with an active end such as shown in Fig. 9, said pawl being pivoted upon the straps 218 at 234. Spring 23B is anchored at 231 to one strap 2IB and at 238 to said pawl 235. It may be observed that the spring is disposed in the housing above the wheel and the flexible load support therein, and constrains the holding pawl to load holding engagement with and upon said flexible support.

The final major departure in this embodiment is found in the lost motion link modification. Herein the latch 245 mounts headed pin 245 Link 230 mounts headed pin 23G The lost motionlink 246 includes longitudinally aligned slots 2 56 and 24G which have seated therein the shanks of pins 245- and 230 respectively. The separating portion 245 between said slot provides a stop which limits and insures proper disposition of the drag link 246 at all times. Except for handle collapse for shipment or storage purposes this embodiment functions identically to those previously described. The specific character of the flexible load support, the loadwheel corresponding peripheral conformation, and the complementary formation of the two pawls may be of the log chain type if desired.

As will be observed in Figs. 11-13 the link 246 provides a lost motion action between the actuating link 230 and the latch 245. The elongated slots M5 and 245* permit lost motion such that the operating lever and handle 232 may be swung freely from its uppermost position, as in Fig. 11, to its lowermost position, as in Figs. 12 and 13, without efiecting the latch 245. When it is desired to lower the load or have a free running chain, the operating lever 232 is: moved to its extreme lowered position so that the latch 245 will be brought into latching engagement with the. latch pin 243 to render the holding pawl ineffective.

The latch will remain in its latching position while the load is being lowered through raising the operating lever from the position shown in Fig. 13 to that shown in Fig. 11. Thereupon, the lost motion is terminated through the lost motion link 246 such that the latch is forced out of latching engagement with the latching pin 243, whereupon the holding pawl is spring biased back to its eifective load holding position. The operating lever may then be tilted on its pivotal support 231 with the load pawl free of effective engagement with the load wheel while the holding pawl holds the load,- as above described with respect to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. If it is desired to provide for free wheeling of the chain, with the holding pawl latched out of effective position, as shown in Fig. 13, the operating handle 232 may be swung about its pivotal support freeing the load pawl, whereupon there will be no pawl engagement with the load wheel or its chain.

It will be recalled that mention has beenmade to the effect that the inextensible flexible load support could be of tape-like type. Since such a means has no inherent abutment portions therein for pawl engagement, another embodiment, see Fig. 15, is illustrated by way of example only.

In the modification of Fig. 15, numerals of the three hundred series are similarly utilized. The essential difference, as stated, is that the flexible load support is of tape type. It passes over a wheel 328 having side flange portions 348 and a central portion 349 which is longitudinally corrugated, thereby forming the ridges 349 and the grooves 349*. The ends of pawls 333 and 335 are serrated as at 342 and 349 respectively.

In operation, this embodiment is essentially the same as those previously described except that the wheel ridges 343 conform the tape to provide the spaced abutments and the depressed portions therebetween for engagement by one or both pawls as desired or required, or by neither pawl when free tape movement is desired with no load on the tape. The tape may be of textile fabric such as nylon having the desired thickness and width.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a structure for operating a flexible normally inext-ensible load support and having a housing including an axle and a load wheel rotatably supported upon said axle for carrying said support, in combination therewith, a load holding pawl pivoted upon said housing normally biased into load holding position for holding said wheel and load support, a supporting link pivotally mounted on said housing concentrically of said axle, an operating lever fulcrumed .on one end of said supporting link having a load pawl at one end and a handle extension at the other end thereof, said load pawl being movable into and out of load operating position upon rocking said lever about its fulcrum, a latch pivotally mounted on said housing, a latch engaging memher on said holdingpawl, and a lost motion linkage connecting said latch and supporting link,

said linkage having a'pair of aligned spaced elon gated slots for sliding engagement with projections on said latch and supporting link re-- spectively, to permit effective load pawl actuation to manipulate the load through the lost motion movement of said projections within said slots, and swing said latch into and out of its latching position upon said projections reaching their limit of movement in said slots when said supporting link and operating lever are at one or the other of their extreme positions.

2. In a structure for operating a flexible normally inextensible load support and having a housing including an axle and a load wheel rotatably supported upon said axle for carrying said support, in combination therewith, a load holding pawl mounted on said housing for movement into and out of load holding position, a supporting link pivotally mounted on said housing concentrically of said axle, a load operating lever fulcrumed on one end of said supporting link, a latch mounted on said housing movable into and out of latching engagement with said holding pawl, and a lost motion linkage connecting said latch and supporting link to permit effective actuation of said lever to manipulate the load during lost motion movement of said linkage, said latch being movable into and out of latching position upon said linkage reaching its limit of movement.

3. In a structure for operating a flexible normally inextensible load support and having a housing including an axle and a load wheel rotatably supported upon said axle for carrying said support, in combination therewith, a load holding pawl pivoted upon said housing normally biased into load holding position for holding said wheel and load support, a supporting link pivotally mounted on said housing concentrically of said axle, an operating lever fulcrumed on one end of said supporting link having a load pawl at one end and a handle extension at the other end thereof, said load pawl being movable into and out of load operating position upon rocking said lever about its fulcrum, a latch pivotally mounted on said housing for swinging movement into and out of latching engagement with said holding pawl, and a lost motion linkage connecting said latch and supporting link to permit efiective load pawl actuation to manipulate the load during lost motion movement of said linkage and swing said latch into and out of its latching position upon said linkage reaching its limit of movement when said supporting link and operating lever are at one or the other of their extreme positions.

4. In a structure for operating a flexible normally inextensible load. support and having a housing including an axle and a load wheel rotatably supported upon said axle for carrying said support, in combination therewith, a load holding pawl movably mounted on said housing for movement into and out of position for holding said wheel and load support, a supporting link pivotally mounted on said housing concentrically with said axle, an operating lever fulcrumed on one end of said supporting link having a load pawl at one end thereof movable into and out of load operating position about its said fulcrum, a latch movably mounted on said housing adapted to be moved into and out of latching engagement with said holding pawl, and a lost motion linkage connecting said latch and supporting link, said linkage having a pair of aligned spaced elongated slots for sliding engagement with projections on said latch and supporting link respectively, to permit effective load pawl actuation to manipulate the load during lost motion movement of said projections within said elongated slots of the linkage and move said latch into and out of its latching position upon said projections reaching their limit of movem'ent in said elongated slots when said supporting link and operating lever are at one or the other of their extreme positions.

5. In a structure for operating a flexible normally inextensible load support and having a housing including an axle and a load wheel rotatably supported upon said axle for carrying said support, in combination therewith, a load holding .pawlmovably mounted upon said housing into and out of load holding position for holding said wheel and load support, a supporting link pivotally mounted on said housing concentrically of said axle, an operating lever fulcrumed on one end of said supporting link having a load pawl at one end and a handle extension at the other end thereof, said pawl being rockable on said link into and out of load operating position, a latch mounted on said housing structure movable into and out of latching engagement with said holding pawl, a lost motion linkage connecting said latch and supporting link to permit effective load pawl actuation to manipulate the load during lost motion of said linkage, and move said latch into and out of its latching position upon said linkage reaching its limit of movement when said supporting link and operating lever are at one or the other of their extreme positions, a stop member on said housing structure, and a projection on said supporting link for limiting its pivotal movement to one extreme position for eifective latching engagement of said holding pawl.

6. In a structure for operating a flexible normally inextensible load support and having a housing including an axle and a load wheel rotatably supported upon said axle for carrying said support, in combination therewith, a load holding pawl movably mounted upon said housing into and out of load holding position for holding said wheel and load support, a supporting link pivotally mounted on said housing concentrically of said axle, an operating lever fulcrumed on one end of said supporting link having a load pawl at one end and a handle extension at the other end thereof, said pawl being rockable on said link into and out of load operating position, a latch mounted on said housing movable into and out of latching engagement with said holding pawl, a lost motion linkage connecting said latch and supporting link to permit effective load pawl actuation to manipulate the load during lost motion movement of said linkage and move said latch into and out of its latching position upon said linkage reaching its limit of movement when said supporting link and operating lever are at one or othe other of their ex- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,051,832 Edelblute Aug. 25, 1936 2,099,940 Nelson Nov. 23, 1937 

